date: 5 June 2007

embargo: 08.00am 7 June 2007

TUC Commission meets exploited London workers

TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber, Jaeger Chief Executive Belinda Earl and Connect Deputy General Secretary Leslie Manasseh from the TUC's Commission on Vulnerable Employment will today (Thursday) meet with some of London's most at risk workers - domestic servants, homeless people and migrant workers.

A TUC report www.tuc.org.uk/extras/covebriefing.pdf says up to one in five of the London workforce may be vulnerable workers. They include agency workers, temporary workers, domestic workers, home workers and migrant workers. Examples of exploitation include low pay, including illegal and unfair deductions from the minimum wage; unsafe workplaces; limited rights to leave; lack of control over working time and lack of security.

The TUC's Commission was launched last week (May 31) to investigate the extent of workplace exploitation in the UK, and to consider improvements to the enforcement regime and legal protection available for vulnerable staff.

Brendan Barber said: 'The Commission has heard about workers being paid well below the minimum wage or not being paid at all - London is one of the world's most expensive cities to live in and this exploitation really hurts London workers. We've also heard about workers not being allowed to take any breaks or being denied rights like paid holidays and sick pay.

' The TUC's Commission will help exploited workers in London speak out so we can work out what government, employers and unions can do to support them.'

Belinda Earl said: ' I became a member of the Commissionas I support its cause to improve the working conditions and rights of Britain's vulnerable workers, and would like to play a part in making this goal a reality.'

Leslie Manasseh added: ' We know that one of the best ways to tackle inequality and poverty is through decent work, backed up by enforceable employment rights. Yet many people are unable to take advantage of their rights and face a daily risk of exploitation by unscrupulous employers. The Commission offers an opportunity to take a serious look at what can be done to help those workers who live their lives without the security most people take for granted.'

The field trip will begin with a visit to the offices of Groundswell UK in Stockwell, a charity supporting self help networks for homeless people, where Commissioners will meet with people who have experienced homelessness and vulnerable employment. This will be followed by a visit to Kalaya'an - a registered charity providing advice, advocacy and support services in the UK for migrant domestic workers - in Holland Park to speak to migrant domestic workers and the staff who have supported them. Commissioners will then attend a round table discussion with representatives from Transport for London, St Mungo's, the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants, the Portuguese Workers Association, London Citizens, Praxis, Refugee Council, the RNIB and BECTU. The trip will conclude with a meeting with migrant workers supported by Praxis, London Citizens and the Refugee Action Media Group.

Last week (31 May to 6 June) the TUC ran a free phone helpline for exploited workers to tell their story - calls included reports of non-payment, minimum wage abuses, long working hours and unfair dismissal. Workers can continue to report their experiences to the Commission by post or via the website ( www.vulnerable workers.org.uk).

CASE STUDY:

- Meera is from India and worked for an employer who decided to bring her to England. She said: 'I didn't know whether I had any rights - I was being paid in rupees so I didn't have any English money, leaving me dependent on my employers for everything. I decided to run away, and I eventually found another employer - but this is where the nightmare really began. I had a large workload and spent long hours cleaning and working around the house. During the day I worked hard, but even at night I couldn't escape. My employer would often come to my room and rape me. This left me even more ashamed and horrified. I couldn't see the way out of the situation, and I was so worried as I believed that I didn't have any rights in the UK. One day walking in the park I met another Indian woman who told me about Kalaya'an, and I began to learn about my rights as a domestic worker in UK.' As Meera grew more confident she decided to leave her employer. During the six months that she spent working for this employer, she was paid a total of £250.

- For more case studies, including migrant and agency workers, please contact the TUC press office.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

COMMISSIONERS:

The members of the Commission are:

Brendan Barber, General Secretary, TUC (Commission Chair)

Kevin Beeston, Chairman, SERCO

Belinda Earl, Chief Executive, Jaeger

Paul Myners, Chair, Land Securities Group

Mohammed Aziz , Director, Faithwise

Fran Bennett , Senior Research Fellow, Oxford University

Madeleine Bunting , Associate Editor and Columnist, The Guardian

Julia Verne, Director, Polski Bristol

Gail Cartmail, Assistant General Secretary, Amicus

Debbie Coulter, Deputy General Secretary, GMB

Jack Dromey, Deputy General Secretary, TGWU

John Hannett, General Secretary, USDAW

Leslie Manasseh, Deputy General Secretary, Connect

Frances O'Grady, Deputy General Secretary, TUC

Dave Prentis, General Secretary, UNISON

Alan Ritchie, General Secretary, UCATT

Full biographies of each Commissioner are available at this link: http://www.vulnerableworkers.org.uk/about/commission-members/

- Commissioners attending the London meeting and available for interview are: Brendan Barber, Belinda Earl and Leslie Manasseh.

- London Citizens aims to develop skills and leadership capacity in London through campaigning, training, and the support of professional organisers.

- Praxis is a support group helping new residents integrate into the UK.

- BECTU is the UK union for broadcasting and allied sectors.

- Exploited workers can write to the Commission at: The Commission on Vulnerable Employment, Congress House, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3LS.

- All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk

- Register for the TUC's press extranet : a service exclusive to journalists wanting to access pre-embargo releases and reports from the TUC. Visit www.tuc.org.uk/pressextranet

Contacts:

Media enquiries: Elly Brenchley T: 020 7467 1337; M: 07900 910624;
E: ebrenchley@tuc.org.uk

Liz Chinchen T: 020 7467 1248; M: 07778 158175; E: media@tuc.org.uk

Press release (1,100 words) issued 7 Jun 2007